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I thought Obama and Israel hated each other?

It is doubtful US President Barack Obama will
rack up many tangible policy achievements during his upcoming Middle
East trip. But if worse comes to worst, he won’t go home entirely
empty-handed: President Shimon Peres on Monday announced that he will
present his American counterpart with the Presidential Medal of
Distinction during his March stay in Israel.

“It will be the first time in history that a
serving president of the United States of America will receive an award
of this kind from the president of the State of Israel,” the President’s
Residence announced in a press release Monday afternoon — which makes
sense, given the fact that the award was only created last year.

US
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to
President Shimon Peres in the White House, June 13, 2012 (photo credit:
Amos Ben Gershom/GPO/Flash90)

“Barack Obama is a true friend of the State of
Israel, and has been since the beginning of his public life,” Peres and
the award committee said in explaining their decision. “As president of
the United States of America, he has stood with Israel in times of
crisis. During his time as president he has made a unique contribution
to the security of the State of Israel, both through further
strengthening the strategic cooperation between the countries and
through the joint development of technology to defend against rockets
and terrorism.”

Obama’s presidency is typified by “an
unswerving belief and ongoing fight for equality without any regard for
religion, race, sexuality or gender and the strengthening of the weakest
in society in the United States; and for the fulfillment of the values
of democracy, human rights, solidarity and peace across the world,” the
announcement stated. “Through his personal story and his agenda as
president of the United States of America, Barack Obama is a symbol of
democratic values and he exemplifies the spirit of equality of
opportunity in American society.”

According to the President’s Residence, the
Medal of Distinction, which Peres is to present to Obama during a state
dinner at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, is “comparable” to the
French Legion of Honor and the Order of Canada.

The medal — which features the North Star, “to
symbolize the right path,” and a menorah — is given to individuals and
organizations “that have made unique and outstanding contributions to
Tikkun Olam (Bettering the World), Israeli society and the State of
Israel’s image around the world, and which constitute examples of
initiative, innovation, creativity and vision,” according to the
President’s Residence.

Previous awardees include former secretary of
state Henry Kissinger; the music director of the Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra, Zubin Mehta; Attorney Uri Slonim; Judy Feld Carr; the Rashi Foundation; and Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz.

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